Love to Read Romance!

The Boss and Her Billionaire by Michele de Winton

2012-08-15T00:05:00.000-04:00

THE BOSS AND HER BILLIONAIRE

Michele de Winton

Entangled Publishing

July 15th 2012

158 pages

He threw her inhibitions overboard.

Cruise director Michaela Western has everything she wants—everything except a sex life. But there are no secrets on cruise ships. She risked her job once for a dalliance with the Captain, and won’t do it again for a few minutes of toe-curling pleasure. Until a devilishly handsome new staffer with a body made for sin tempts her to walk on the wild side...

Investment billionaire Dylan Johns always gets what he wants. He is used to giving orders—not taking them—until he’s forced to go on hiatus from his investment company. To bide his time and carry out an old dream, he takes a job on a cruise ship—and ends up taking orders from his gorgeous, but uptight, new boss. He is determined to loosen her up with a fun onboard romance, but their no-strings fling turns serious and Dylan is forced to confess his lies.

When the affair threatens to shatter Michaela’s own career dreams, she finds herself caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.

“Like I said, I don’t do holidays. If I’d had to sit around and read a book for this long, I already would have gone crazy.”

Dylan smiled at her, a coronary-inducing, thigh-quivering smile. She wanted to throw herself at him, but he stood up. “So, ready for some fun?”

He’d said it again. Fun. Of course. For a moment, she thought he was going to say something different. That there might be something more between them than a bit of fun. But no, fun was just what she needed. At least for now.

“Can we start again?” she asked.

Dylan’s smile was delicious—the green of both ocean and forest in his eyes, and the heat in their depths sparkled. “To fun?” he asked and held out his hand.

“Fun,” she said, taking it, her heart racing.

“Now, about that snorkeling,” he said. “Race you to change?”

Michaela wondered at what his definition of fun might be. As she changed into her pale blue bikini in the luxurious bathroom, her skin tingled, and when she emerged she felt Dylan’s gaze as if his eyes had physically stroked her.

AMAZON

BARNES AND NOBLE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Michele was born in the mid 1970’s amid a burgeoning sprawl of vineyards and new retirement homes. Despite training in law (or perhaps because of it) she has been a dancer, producer, writer, and all round arty type in various countries for most of her life. Now back home in New Zealand after travelling a plenty, she is a mom to one and writes full time in an office surrounded by whispering trees.

You can find Michele on:

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/michele.dewinton

Twitter https://twitter.com/MicheledeWinton

Post a comment on her blog http://micheledewinton.blogspot.co.nz/

Drop her a line through http://www.micheledewinton.com

She also blogs at The Naked Hero as The Luna goddess: http://www.thenakedhero.com

And on the Indulgence blog: http://entangledindulgence.wordpress.com/

Not the Marrying Kind by Nicola Marsh

2012-08-14T00:05:00.000-04:00

NOT THE MARRYING KIND

Nicola Marsh

Entangled Publishing

July 14th 2012

137 Pages

Who said marriage had to be convenient?

LA party planner Poppy Collins has kept her secret side business – planning divorce parties as the Divorce Diva – a close secret, but keeping her business afloat is proving tougher by the day. When her sister’s divorce party gives Poppy the opportunity to save the day and boost her business, Poppy approaches Vegas golden boy Beck Blackwood for help. But this time, she’s about to get way more than she bargained for…

Beck knows Poppy’s secret, and he’s not afraid to use it to get exactly what he wants – a wife. With his reputation and business expansion plans on the line, the only way he can repair the damage is by getting hitched, and fast. And if blackmail is the only way to get Poppy to the altar, then so be it…

But they’re in the city of high stakes, and Poppy has a few aces up her sleeve. Now it’s time to find out if they’re playing to win… or if they’re playing for keeps.

Nicola Marsh has taken the marriage of convenience and brought it into this century! Beck and Poppy's story has a little of everything...blackmail, snarky humor, gorgeous alpha hero, sassy heroine, and last but not least hot sexy romance. It also has a couple of characters in the back-story that probably really need their own story (hint,hint). It made for a great one sitting read...grab a cool drink and spend a couple hours with this fun one!
This book is from Entangled Publishing's Indulgence line. EBook provided by the publisher for review.

AMAZON

BARNES & NOBLE

Spotlight on Only Scandal Will Do

2012-08-13T00:05:00.000-04:00

ONLY SCANDAL

WILL DO

Jenna Jaxon

Lyrical Press

July 17th 2012

253 pages

Kidnapped and sold at auction in a London brothel, Lady Katarina Fitzwilliam squelches an undeniable attraction to the masked stranger who purchased her, pits her wits against him, and escapes him and the scandal that would ruin her life.

Unable to resist temptation in a London brothel, Duncan Ferrers, Marquess of Dalbury, purchases a fiery beauty. She claims she's a lady, but how can she be? No lady of his acquaintance in polite society is anything like her.

Then he discovers she is who she says, and that this latest romp has compromised her reputation. He knows how that is. One more scandal and he'll be cast out of London society, but he needs a wife who'll provide an heir to carry on his illustrious family's name. He seeks out Katarina, intending only to scotch the scandal, but instead finds his heart ensnared.

He's betting their future he'll capture her heart, but does he have what it takes to win the wager?

WARNING: A blade-wielding heroine who crosses swords with a master of sensuality.

AMAZON Only Scandal Will Do

BARNES & NOBLE Only Scandal Will Do

Jenna Jaxon is a multi-published author of historical and contemporary romance who has been reading and writing historical romance since she was a teenager. A romantic herself, Jenna has always loved a dark side to the genre, a twist, suspense, a surprise. She tries to incorporate all of these elements into her own writing.

Jenna lives in Virginia with her family and a small menagerie of pets. When not reading or writing, she indulges her passion for the theatre, working with local theatres as a director. She often feels she is directing her characters on their own private stage.

She has equated her writing to an addiction to chocolate because once she starts she just can’t stop.

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Spotlight On Eleanor's Heart by Misa Buckley

2012-08-10T00:05:00.000-04:00

ELEANOR'S HEART

Misa Buckley

Champagne Books

June 30th 2012

111 Pages

Dying of a rare blood disease, Eleanor Franklin needs laudanum to ease the pain, often driven to steal in order to buy more. But when she steals a ruby she has no idea that the gem will tip her into the midst of a deadly species war.Saved by Jefferson Park, she discovers a man with an even darker past than her own: he is one of the last true Vampires fighting to stop the eradication of his kind.

But the Sanguine aren’t the only problem as Eleanor finds herself falling in love with Jefferson. It is a relationship she cannot commit to, as she knows her time is limited, and she will not risk breaking his heart.

But I couldn’t run far, not when every slip on the ice beneath my feet made the pain in my back and ribs flare more. I darted into another alley, realizing too late that there might be yet more creatures hiding in the shadows. I struggled on, every breath an agony now. I wanted laudanum. Dear God, I needed laudanum. The pain would only get worse, otherwise. Whereas sometimes I prayed for death, now it was chasing my heels, I found that I didn’t want to die. Not now, and certainly not as I imagined that thing would dispense death. I pulled on my dwindling strength and rounded another corner.

Ahead of me, a man stood in the center of the alley. I skidded to a halt. He regarded me with a steady gaze, unperturbed by my sudden appearance. In fact, I thought that he seemed ready for it, even though he was dressed for a night at the opera. His dress suit was dark and immaculate, expensively styled, while his polished shoes reflected the scant light.

He wasn’t a large man, and there was plenty of room to pass by him, yet despite that I knew instinctively he represented a greater danger than the thing chasing me. A passing breeze confirmed this notion; billowing his red-lined cloak to reveal how the long fingers of his right hand toyed with the silver grip of a pistol. His eyes shifted from my face to the soft scuttling behind me. The wry amusement that had marked his expression up to then fell away.

“You might care to move out of the way,” he told me, his tone light but with a slight undercurrent of tension. I decided to heed his warning and moved to the side of the alley. Cold leeched from the bricks through my thin blouse as I pressed against the wall. Ice sank straight into my marrow and caused the pain to multiply a hundred-fold. My eyes blurred with tears.

In that moment, a soft whump echoed off the alley walls. Static prickled over my skin, and the tang of ionized æther filled my mouth and nostrils. Something fell with a heavy, wet sort of sound. I dared to open my eyes and saw the creature dead on the ground, the dark stranger standing over it. As I stared at the scene, the creature’s form rippled and fell in on itself, turning into a puddle of black ichor.

Gagging at the stench of long-dead flesh, I turned and retched. My stomach twisted in knots and the acrid bile burnt my throat. Tears stung my eyes. A hand on my shoulder jolted me. My spine snapped as I straightened too quickly. My startled gaze met a pair of gray eyes, narrowed in contemplation.

His face was lean and clean-shaven, his pale skin stark in the darkness. His cheeks were hollow, bisected by sharp bones. Thin lips were pressed into a flat line. The slight breeze ruffled his already unruly hair, lending him a somewhat manic look. This was echoed by the pistol he still held. My jaw dropped at the tell-tale white-blue glow of the crystal chamber: I’d heard about æther weapons, but this was the first one I’d laid eyes on. What did it mean that this man had such a device?

Champagne Books

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Waking Up In the Wrong Bed by Natalie Anderson

2012-08-09T00:05:00.000-04:00

Waking Up in the Wrong Bed

Natalie Anderson

Harlequin

August 1st 2012

190 Pages

When film location scout Ellie Summers sneaks into a colleague's hotel room with seduction in mind, she's thrilled by her own daring!  

But the smug morning-after glow morphs into red-faced mortification when she wakes in the arms of a total stranger! Ruben Theroux might be fine with the situation, but a flustered Ellie most definitely is not.  

Ellie's only defence against this very attractive guy is to insist they're friends only--strictly no benefits! But Ruben isn't a successful businessman for nothing--they'll be good together, and he's happy to play dirty to get what he wants....

[In this scene, it’s the morning after and Nathan is dealing with a very lovely woman who’s made one massive mistake…]

“You’re not Nathan.” Strangled sound emerged as she stated the obvious.

“No,” he answered calmly, not moving a muscle so as not to freak her more. But who the hell was Nathan and how she could have made such a mistake?

“How can you not be Nathan?” she gasped.

Yeah, his thoughts exactly. “Well,” he stated it quietly. “This isn’t Nathan’s room. This is my room.” Literally. Every room in the place was his.

Her mouth opened and closed a couple of times. He waited – motionless – to see how this was going to go. She didn’t seem to realise her thighs were sandwiching his hand in a hot, smooth vice and he wasn’t going to make any sudden kind of movement. But the memory of those limbs straddling his hips wasn’t helping him recover his equilibrium. All he could feel were those lush, strong curves. He wanted the rest of him to be in the midst of them again.

She flicked a wild glance around the room and then arrowed all her attention right back at him. “But this has to be his room, I counted the doors. The other one was empty.”

He pressed his lips together to stop the chuckle sliding out because he didn’t want to make the situation worse for her.

“Are you sure you’re in the right room?” she asked, her eyes still shocked wide.

“Positive. I got in late last night,” He’d been so tired it had all he’d been able to do to stumble from the shower straight to what was definitely his bed. “I came to bed and then the best dream ever turned out to be real.”

Only his dream-turned-real lover was now turning fifty shades of red – embarrassment staining her skin in a swift sweep. Her murmurs of pleasure came back to him – her rough claim that she hadn’t known it would be so good. Yeah. The sweetheart had made a mistake. She’d meant that passion for some other guy. A sharp claw of jealousy swiped his ribs, puncturing his enjoyment of his best ever wake-up. But hadn’t been some other guy who’d pleased her so much. It had been him.

“You’re a guest here?” she asked in a low choked voice.

“Actually I –”

She never gave him the chance to introduce himself, instead she launched into a monologue of mortification and panic. “Oh I can’t believe this. I can’t believe it. I’m so sorry. I am so, so sorry.”

Partly because he wanted to see her reaction, but mainly because he couldn’t resist, he let his fingers stroke – just the once, so very gently in the hot, damp prison she gripped them in.

The incessant apologies ended instantly on a breathless gasp. Her mouth reddened, her muscles tightened and her temperature sizzled. His eyes locked on hers, watching the blue go brilliant, then her black pupils absorbed that colour as they swelled super fast. Her flush deepened. He felt the spasms before she twisted, releasing him as she scuttled to the far edge of the bed.

“You don’t need to apologise,” he said, wondering if he should be the one saying sorry now. But he couldn’t quite regret it. She’d been waking up so wonderfully willing in his arms when she thought he was this Nathan, but just then? That had been a raw response to him. She was hot and hungry for him. As she’d been last night when he’d been the one to meet her demands.

A swift glance told him what he needed to know – there were no rings between those white knuckles. No guy had staked a permanent claim and the Nathan guy was a fool for not taking her to bed sooner. The woman was passionate and hungry, literally a dream lover.

He coughed to ease the constriction in his chest. “I’m sorry I’m not Nathan.”

Only because he wanted what she’d meant for the other guy – that invitation and pleasure. Hell, he wanted it now. He was stiffer than a steel pipe and feeling her sensual response spike like that had worsened it. But he fought the impulse to drag her close again, wincing at his new-found Neanderthal leanings.

The poor woman was completely mortified and he was all rampaging lust, desperate to sleep with her again. What kind of human was he?

Great afternoon read! Ellie and Ruben's story is so cute, I found myself laughing and rooting for their relationship to make it from the very beginning. The well written characters have a good sense of humor that makes the book all that more interesting. I really enjoyed this wonderfully well written "will they won't they" romance and will be reading more of Ms. Anderson's work. EBook provided by the author for review.

AMAZON Waking Up in the Wrong Bed

BARNES & NOBLE Waking up in the Wrong Bed

BOOK DEPOSITORY Waking Up in the Wrong Bed

USA TODAY bestseller Natalie Anderson writes fun, frisky, feels-good contemporary romance for Harlequin Mills & Boon and Entangled. With over twenty books published, she’s also been a Romantic Times Award nominee & a finalist for the R*BY (Romantic Book of the Year). She lives in Christchurch, New Zealand with her husband, four children and what feels like a million ducks. Find out more at her website http://www.natalie-anderson.com and be sure to sign up for her newsletter there as she often has subscriber only eTreats!

Welcome Ros Clarke author of The Oil Tycoon and Her Sexy Sheikh

2012-08-08T00:05:00.000-04:00

Ros... Welcome to LtRR we are so glad to have you here today!

Please share a short bio with us:
Ros is a writer, a student, a church worker, a crafter, a blogger, a twitterer, a lazy gardener, and an appalling housekeeper. She lives in a sixteenth century shed in England and is very glad that it has twenty-first century plumbing. She is interested in almost everything except cricket and football (US and UK) and mostly she likes happy endings in fiction and in real life.

Can you tell us more about The Oil Tycoon and Her Sexy Sheikh?
It’s a contemporary romance with a very contemporary conflict – the need for the wealth that oil brings versus the destruction it does to the environment. Doing battle over this question are Sheikh Khaled of Saqat, a marine biologist and heir to the throne, and Olivia McInnes, an oil executive who is determined to take control of her father’s company. He’s deeply principled but knows he needs to do his duty. She’s talented and ambitious and won’t let anything get in the way of her career. When his principles come up against her ambition, sparks fly in the boardroom – and in the bedroom.

Where did the idea come from?
I wanted to write a sheikh book that seemed like it could belong in the real world of the Middle East where religion, politics and oil all combine to make it a complicated and fascinating world. Oil was my starting point and the potential for serious environmental damage in the Persian Gulf. Once I’d worked out that I wanted my sheikh to be the environmentalist, I had to have his counterpart be the oil executive, and it all flowed from there.

What sort of research did you do for this book?
I have a friend who used to be an oil engineer, so I talked to him a bit about life on an oil rig. I’ve lived in northern Scotland, so that part of the book was relatively easy to write. Otherwise, I did a lot of reading up on the research areas of the Natural History Museum, the reproductive cycle of dugongs, and the marine life of the Persian Gulf.

Do you have a common theme or item that appears in each of your books?
Hah! I do. Only one person has spotted it so far, and it began accidentally but it is so brilliant that I am now doing it deliberately, but I want it to be a secret that every reader can discover for themselves, so I’m not going to tell you what it is.

As far as themes go, food tends to play a big role in my books. But mostly I think it’s that I like to write about good, decent people trying to do the right thing in really difficult situations.

Who has inspired you as an author?
India Grey was the first real live author I got to know. I admire the way that she can write tired old tropes and make it feel as though you’ve never seen them before. She really inspired me to believe that I had what it took to get published.

Do you have any “must haves” with you while you’re writing?
Laptop. I tried writing on paper a couple of times but I just can’t do it.

How do you remember ideas that come to you at odd times?
Usually I forget them. :( Occasionally I’ll make a note and sometimes the idea is so brilliant that I think of it again. But mostly I’m disorganised and don’t.

What are some of your favorite books? Who are you reading now?
I’ve just finished reading three Regencies by Louise Allen which I enjoyed a lot (the Transformation of the Shelley Sisters series). I love Heyer and Balogh and lots of great historical romance authors. As far as contemporaries are concerned, I’m a huge fan of Sarah Morgan and Kate Hewitt.

What's next for you?
A couple of short stories. I’m also working on an Indulgence featuring a sexy French footballer. And hopefully some historicals!

Where can you be found online?
You can find Ros on twitter, at Goodreads, and at her own blog. Come and say hi!

Do you have anything you'd like to ask our readers?
In The Oil Tycoon and Her Sexy Sheikh, the action moves from cold, damp, windswept Scotland where they snuggle up beside a wood fire and sip old whisky, to the scorching sands and burning sun of Saqat on the shore of the glittering Persian Gulf. For Khaled and Olivia, both places are equally romantic in their own way. Which would you prefer? Or somewhere else? Where’s your perfect romantic setting?

About the book
The Oil Tycoon and Her Sexy Sheikh is part of Entangled’s Indugence line of contemporary category romances.
His duty, her dreams, undone by their desire…
In the male-dominated oil industry, executive Olivia McInnes plays a careful game – she’s cold, uncompromising, and ambitious as hell. Once she seals the deal to drill in the clear waters of Saqat, she’ll finally prove herself worthy to take the reins of her father’s oil company. Her only obstacle is marine biologist – and Saqat’s royal heir – Sheih Khaled Ibm Saqat , who’s determined to protect both his people and his country from environmental devastation…
It’s not long before Olivia’s icy cool exterior is shattered by the intelligent and wickedly hot sheikh, and business is surpassed by sweet, stolen pleasures. But outside the bedroom, there’s reality to be faced. Soon Khaled must return to his obligations – and his betrothed – in Saqat.
Caught between duty and ambition, can an oil tycoon and a sexy sheikh find room for love…or will this business deal spell disaster for them both?
More details and an excerpt are available here.

Buy it at Amazon (US), B&N, Amazon (UK)

The Oil Tycoon and Her Sexy Sheikh

Ros Clarke

Indulgence an imprint of Entangled Publishing

July 14th 2012

131 pages

His duty, her dreams, undone by their desire...

In the male-dominated oil industry, executive Olivia McInnes plays a careful game - she's cold, uncompromising, and ambitious as hell. Once she seals the deal to drill in the clear waters of Saqat, she'll finally prove herself worthy to take the reins of her father's oil company. Her only obstacle is marine biologist - and Saqat's royal heir - Sheikh Khaled Ibm Saqat al Mayim, who's determined to protect both his people and his country from environmental devastation...

It's not long before Olivia's icy cool exterior is shattered by the intelligent and wickedly hot sheikh, and business is surpassed by sweet, stolen pleasures. But outside the bedroom, there's reality to be faced. Soon Khaled must return to his obligations - and his betrothed - in Saqat.

Caught between duty and ambition, can an oil tycoon and a sexy sheikh find room for love... or will this business deal spell disaster for them both?

Olivia and Khaled's story is captivating and compelling, it touches on a lot of current concerns along with their romance. I could tell throughout the book that Ms. Clarke had done her research for this story. She does a wonderful job of intertwining the environmental concerns of oil drilling with the issues that the couple have to overcome from Khaled's background everything from religion, cultural expectations and leadership responsibilities. Ms. Clarke is a new author to me and I will definitely be looking for more from her. EBook copy provided for review by the author.

Ros is a writer, a student, a church worker, a crafter, a blogger, a twitterer, a lazy gardener, and an appalling housekeeper. She lives in a sixteenth century shed in England and is very glad that it has twenty-first century plumbing. She is interested in almost everything except cricket and football (US and UK) and mostly she likes happy endings in fiction and in real life. Ros has been writing stories for as long as she can remember, never dreaming that other people would be interested in reading them. A few years ago, she discovered a writing forum on the internet, and has never looked back. Her head--and her hard drive--are full of ideas for fresh, fun, contemporary romances that she hopes you'll love as much as she does.

Taming Talia by Marie-Nicole Ryan

2012-08-07T00:05:00.000-04:00

Taming Talia

Loving the Lawman Book 2

Marie-Nicole Ryan

Samhain Publishing

August 14th 2012

188 pages

"She'll take her pleasure hot...until it burns its way to the cold truth."

"Loving the Lawman, Book 2"

Over her not-so-dearly-departed husband's grave, newly widowed Natalia Montrose vows to shake off the memories of her abusive marriage by bedding the first suitable man she meets. Enter handsome, flirtatious Jared Fields, who offers to help her manage her assets.

Natalia has no intention of giving up control of the ranch her father traded away-along with her hand-for gold. But she intends to enjoy this stranger's advances until all her desires are sated.

Jared is a rarity among Pinkerton agents. Well educated, the disowned black sheep of a wealthy New York City family, he enjoys the freedom afforded by his various assignments. But discovering whether the fiery Widow Montrose had her husband killed is a challenge with an unexpected twist. All he can think about is what he'll do when he gets her in bed.

Natalia and Jared circle each other warily, feeling the pull of sensual heat. But when the Blizzard of 1889 hits, the sexual sparks may not be enough to keep them warm...or alive.

Warning: Contains a sex-starved widow and a saddled-hardened Pinkerton agent who set the sheets afire.

I'm an award winning romantic suspense author, and I've had a life-long love affair with books. I recently moved back to my old hometown in Western Kentucky. In addition to writing romantic suspense, I occasionally dabble in the erotic historical western genre.

I'm a member of ROMANCE WRITERS OF AMERICA, MUSIC CITY ROMANCE WRITERS, and (PASIC) Published Authors Special Interest Chapter. When I served as the editor of MCRW's newsletter, Love Notes, we won the RWA small chapter newsletter contest for the year 2005.

AMAZON

BARNES & NOBLE

Guest/Review/Giveaway! Brandi Evans author of His Forbidden Submissive

2012-08-06T00:05:00.000-04:00

Hola, Lovelies!

I'm so honored you stopped by to learn a little about me and my newest release His Forbidden Submissive. This was such a fun (and sexy!) story to write, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. ;-)

I'd also like to thank my wonderful host for having me here. You so totally rock!

Now on with the show, LOL...

Since you write erotic romance, do you enjoy reading it? If so, what are some of your favorites?

Do I enjoy reading erotic romance? Heck ya! It was my love of erotic romance that got my Muse's sexual juices really flowing. The love scenes just played themsevles out in my head. Over and over and over.

So I decided to just start writing them down. *grin*

Yeah, it's hard to function with steamy, hotter-than-lava scenes playing out in my head when I'm trying to do mundane things like help the kids with homework or wash the dishes. Yeah, I know. I probably have issues only a shrink can work through, LOL.

Who do I have to thank for my, um, issues? The lovely, sexy, extremely talented Ms. Delilah Devlin.

Not only do I love, love, love her stories, I like her as a person. She's in my local RWA group. *grin* I can't tell you how much she inspired me--even if I found her extremely intimidating at first. But don't tell her I said that, LOL.

What about you, lovelies? Who's your fave erotica/erotic romance author? Dirty minds want to know. :-)

Later!

~Brandi

His Forbidden Submissive

Brandi Evans

Ellora's Cave

June 27th 2012

169 pages

To find happiness, she must do something she swore she’d never do again.

Let a man control her.

After beating cancer, Vivian goes on a mission to cleanse her life. First on the list, kicking her cheating, controlling husband to the curb. Second, discovering the answer to a question that’s been haunting her. Is the love she harbors for Brock, her bad-boy brother-in-law, genuine or a chemotherapy-induced illusion?

Brock loves a woman he can’t have. His brother’s wife. To claim her would be a betrayal. He knows loving her is wrong but he can’t help it. So when circumstances bring them back together, he can no longer deny his forbidden attraction, and they unite in a fury of passion, lust—and bondage.

But Vivian isn’t prepared for Brock’s BDSM lifestyle, no matter how sexy he looks with his tats and leathers. After ten years with a controlling husband, submission is terrifying—but so is never being with Brock again. Submission or freedom? No matter which she chooses, her life will change forever.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Joy and pain lodged in his chest like the blunt blade of a butter knife. The memory of that time, of Vivian’s uterus riddled with cancer brought back dark memories.

Oh god no. The cancer! Was that why she was here?

He grabbed her by the arms. “Is it the cancer? Is it back? Has it spread?” He’d shake the damn truth out of her if he had to.

“No, Brock,” she whispered, her voice so soft, her smile reassuring. “I’m not here because the cancer’s back.”

“No cancer?” He just had to make sure.

“None whatsoever.”

“Oh thank god.” Relief practically leveled him and he crushed her against him, clung to her, partly to feel close to her, but mostly to keep from falling flat on his ass. Holding her felt as damn natural as breathing. Her petite body fit perfectly against his. He never wanted to let her go.

As if he needed another sign he was screwed.

He tightened his arms around her, bent close and buried his nose in the crevice of her neck. Her spicy, floral scent combined with the sensation of having her in his arms again. The dual stimuli rocked his resolve, threatened to overwhelm his better judgment.

“Brock,” she whispered. “Brock.” Deep. Husky. Wanton. Seductive. Each word described the timbre of her voice. Each word doused gasoline on the fire raging below his belt.

Christ.

He pulled back, pushed her to arm’s length. Time to move their reunion along before he did something he’d regret.

Like her.

This is a great book! First of all I love erotica and second I like a "story" with my kink, not just sex...

Vivian has a lot of issues to overcome for them to find their HEA, I was so glad she was able to separate herself from her husbands abuse and Brock's lifestyle...two totally different things. I think that is what a lot of people don't understand about the lifestyle, that it is not abuse...it's safe, sane, consensual and this book went a long way toward explaining the difference.

I was really glad that Viv had Anne (her attorney/friend) to talk to, she really helped Viv see how to handle everything. (I think there's a related story there with Anne waiting to be written! hint,hint)

What can I say about Brock? hmmmm droolworthy is all I can think of! Loved him!

Vivian and Brock's story was really good, I found myself cheering them on through most of the book!

This is an adult only book. Review copy courtesy of the author.

AMAZON

BARNES & NOBLE

Brandi Evans is a stay-at-home mom with a serious addiction…the compulsive need to tell sexy stories to whoever will listen.

She brings to life fun, flawed characters with kick-ass-and-take-no-prisoners attitudes who challenge her every step of the writing process. Whether inspiring a hot-and-heavy contemporary, a pulse-pounding suspense or a dark-and-decadent paranormal romance, her muse knows no boundaries. And she likes it that way. When veering outside the box, she never knows where her next story could take her.

Website: http://www.BrandiEvansAuthor.com

Blog: http://www.brandievansauthor.blogspot.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/#!/brandi_evans

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4373174.Brandi_Evans

Brandi will be awarding a $10 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

Don't forget to visit the other tour stops and comment to increase your chances of winning!!

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/06/virtual-book-tour-his-forbidden.html

Delighting in Your Company

2012-07-25T00:05:00.000-04:00

DELIGHTING IN YOUR COMPANY

Blair McDowell

Rebel Ink Press

April 2012

282 pages

What more could a girl ask for?

When Amalie Ansett visits her elderly cousin on the small Caribbean island of St. Clements, the last thing she’s looking for is romance. Just out of a disastrous marriage, she’s ready to swear off men forever. That is until she meets local plantation owner, Jonathan Evans. He's tall, good looking, intelligent and incredibly sexy. What more could a girl ask for?

An unsolved murder…

Then Amalie discovers the man she loves is a ghost. Only she can see and hear him. Perhaps he's real to her because Amalie is the image of her distant ancestor, Jonathan’s bride from an earlier time. Jonathan was murdered two hundred years ago and has no knowledge of who killed him or why.

A perilous trip to the past…

When Jonathan asks her to help him by returning with him to his past, Amalie is torn. If she helps him solve the mystery surrounding his death, she could lose him forever. If she doesn’t, she'll be stuck with a ghost for a lover.

And a love that crosses the boundaries of time...

To save Jonathan, Amalie agrees to travel with him back in time to the Caribbean of the 1800’s, when sugar reigned supreme and the slave trade was making fortunes for wealthy planters and ship owners. Her adventures there include a slave uprising, murder, deceit and an enduring love that crosses the boundaries of time.

This was such a unique story..paranormal, time travel, romance, suspense, adventure...it has it all! One of those books that just kept getting better and better the more you read. It was very interesting to watch Amalie's character grow as the story progresses and Jonathan was so easy to fall in love with. I was fascinated with the history and beliefs of the Caribbean of the 1800's. I read this book in two sittings, I just lost track of time while reading, and that is the sign of a great book to me, if it can "take me away"! Ms. McDowell you definitely have a new fan! Review copy courtesy of the author.

AMAZON Delighting in Your Company

BARNES & NOBLE Delighting in Your Company

I started to write soon after I found my first pencil. But I began to write for publication about 30 years ago -- professional books. I wrote six of them, all still in print and still in use. Only lately have I turned to fiction. I'd have done it a lot sooner if I'd had any idea how much fun it was!

I've lived in many different places. The US -- Certain cities call to me. I love San Francisco and Seattle and the wonderful Oregon Coast. Australia -- among the most open welcoming people in the world, and a wide open young country with incredible land and sea scapes, with amazing animal and bird life right out of science fiction. Canada -- HOME. The place where I belong.

I travel a lot. I usually spend the month of October in Europe, Greece or Italy, and the winter in a little house I built many years ago on a small non-touristy Caribbean Island. I have worked and studied in many places -- Hungary, Australia the US and Canada, and have spoken in most of the States and Provinces as well as Taiwan and various cities in Europe. I enjoy being surrounded by cultures other than my own. I enjoy my own as well -- but variety is indeed the spice of my life.

I keep busy -- and I love my life. I love meeting the people who come here to the west coast of Canada and stay in my B&B. I love traveling after the tourist season is over. And I love writing. My interests?? Music, especially opera, reading everything in print, and Writing. And walking on the beach and swimming. At one point I had hoped to swim in every major sea and ocean. I've realized that may not be possible in one lifetime -- but trying has been fun!

I am a member of the Romance Writers of America, Romance Writers of America (Greater Vancouver Chapter), and the Romance Writers of America (Women's Fiction).

Retreat Hell! She Just Got Here by Heather Long

2012-07-23T00:05:00.000-04:00

Retreat Hell! She Just Got Here

(1 Night Stand Series)

Heather Long

Decadent Publishing

April 21st 2012

37 pages

She’s one of the few…

Jazz has been one of the guys for over a decade, serving her country with distinction, but she longs to explore her femininity, to be desired as a woman, to flirt, cavort and fulfill every sexual desire. When her mother, of all people, signs her up for a 1Night Stand, she’s not sure whether to be exhilarated or pissed. She flew all the way to Las Vegas on the promise of a total escape, to be Jasmine for just one night, because tomorrow, she plans to re-up for another five years.

They’re two of the proud…

Logan Cavanaugh grew up across the street from his best friend and ‘brother’ Zach Evans. Inseparable, the two shared everything until a year before when an IED attack took out the Humvee they traveled in with Colonel Dexter. Zach suffered a concussion, but Logan’s injuries were far more extensive. After a year of physical therapy, he can walk, but he’ll never run or love a woman again, or so he fears. Logan seemed ready to accept his impotence until Zach came home. Now the ‘brothers’ are in Vegas to meet the perfect woman, the woman who can heal Logan’s confidence and masculinity.

They’re all Marines…

They’ve shared everything, but will one night be enough?

Great short story! Wish it was longer...I wanted to spend more time with Jazz, Logan and Zach!! Ms. Long did a great job with the characters and plot line especially since it was done in so few words.

I found myself hoping that Jazz would get her night of being desired as a woman, that Logan would realize he wasn't impotent after all, and all in a one night stand.

I've read about ten of the 1 Night Stand Series and have really enjoyed them all, they are great when you just have a few minutes to read and need that romance/sizzling sex "fix"!

Review copy complements of the author.

AMAZON Retreat Hell! She Just Got Here

BARNES & NOBLE Retreat Hell! She Just Got Here

Heather Long lives in North Texas with her family and their menagerie of animals. As a child, Heather skipped picture books and enjoyed the Harlequin romance novels by Penny Jordan and Nora Roberts that her grandmother read to her. Heather believes that laughter is as important to life as breathing and that the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus are very real. In the meanwhile, she is hard at work on her next novel.

Still Hot for You by Diane Escalera

2012-07-20T00:05:00.000-04:00

Still Hot for You

Diane Escalera

Lyrical Press, Inc.

March 19, 2012

79 Pages

Want to get your man talking? Give him booty!

Desperate times call for desperate measures. And Shay LaCosta is pretty desperate. She's wrecked her blissful marriage of five years by demanding she and her husband Dylan have a baby. What the hell was she thinking? She knows she was wrong and she’s ready to set things right, if only Dylan will let her. Bet he can’t shun her Booty Camp offer: delicious, white-hot sex in exchange for what’s going on inside his brain.

Dylan may be macho and stubborn, but he really does miss his wife. A little of Shay's pushing gets him past their estrangement and into her web of seduction. She seems to have an erotic week mapped out to perfection, and who is he to complain? Their marriage is meant to be, so they'll fight with each other, and they'll fight for each other.

WARNING: Racy Language, Hot Sex, Seduction

Shay’s heart rate kicked up a notch when Dylan entered her space. She looked at her husband. Poor guy. Worry filled those pretty blue eyes that five years later, still melted her on contact. He looked beat. But gorgeous.

Propped against the doorframe, he watched her suspiciously. His gaze lingered on her snug denim cut-offs. Slowly, his focus trailed up to her white, spaghetti-strap cami that did nothing to hide her erect tan nipples.

Shay held her breath. She titled her head to the side, and her smooth dark hair cascaded in lush waves over her shoulder.

“What’s up?” Dylan asked, in a husky tone.

Most days, she had already gone to bed when he got home from work. They rarely saw each other, let alone when Shay was dressed like that. “Hungry?”

She stepped into the light so he could see every inch of her sweet curves. Her husband flinched and she knew she’d gotten to him. Good. Because this was what he’d been missing.

Dylan dropped his work stuff on the kitchen stool. He looked at her, his gaze sweeping her up and down again. “You cooked?”

“Uh-huh.” She took in his handsome face. Did he still love her? “Shocking, huh?”

He nodded. “About as shocking as…” His chin pointed at her transparent top. “What is this? The calm before the storm?” His jaw tightened. He looked like he was waiting for a bomb to drop.

“It’s just shorts and a tank,” she said, shrugging it off. Underneath, her body felt tingly and nervous. Hopefully, she wasn’t making a fool of herself. What if he rejected her? Whatever. She had to give it a shot. “I’m just about done here. Why don’t you go change while I finish up?”

He stared straight ahead. “Okay.”

She watched him stroll away, his gait strong, fit and purposeful. She didn’t want to be angry with Dylan anymore. After months of mulish behavior, she’d rationalized her situation. At twenty-nine, she had plenty of time to start a family. It’s not like Dylan didn’t want kids. He did. He just had this need to secure their future first. The man showed tenacity, but didn’t she love that about him?

While he changed, Shay spread out the meal. She used the good china and lit a line of candles down the center of the table. Dimming the overhead lamp instantly transformed the mood to soft and relaxing. Barefoot, she sauntered over to the stereo and clicked on the CD player, already loaded with atmosphere music. She chose something not too romantic, just a light, melodic tune.

Back at the table, she tinkered with the wineglasses. She straightened a fork, aligned the salad dressing.

“Whoa,” Dylan said from the hallway.

She looked over her shoulder and smiled. Dropping into a tall, cushioned chair, she kept her eyes on him as he strode her way.

Faded jeans hung low on his waist. A white athletic undershirt smothered his hard upper body. Wide arms pressed against a V-shaped torso. Bright eyes contrasted with spiky dark hair. At thirty-two, Dylan was pure hotness. “Going all out tonight?” He checked out the glamorous display.

“Yep.” Her eyes raked over the tribal armband tattoo inked into his upper left arm. God, it was sexy. God, he was sexy. Almost as sexy as the first time she’d seen him in her father’s living room. He’d come with his own dad, a carpenter who’d been hired to work around her parents’ estate. It’d been an instant, mutual, heated attraction. Tall, dark and proud, he’d made a tool belt look like a sex toy. Blue eyes and a sinister grin--she had fallen hard.

This was a good novella to read in one sitting. Shay and Dylan have grown apart after five years of marriage and her strong desire to have a child that Dylan isn't ready for. Shay has made it her priority to get them back to the great sex and close communications they had earlier in their marriage. Ms. Escalera did a great job with the characters and plot, even though it was a short read she achieved a lot of depth. Recommended for that afternoon read when you need a good dose of.... WARNING: Racy Language, Hot Sex, Seduction
Review copy supplied by the author

Amazon Still Hot for You

Barnes and Noble Still Hot for You

Born and raised in the Bronx, NY, Diane Escalera makes her home in sunny South Florida. The sultry paradise is a steady source of inspiration for her hot love stories. Diane is married, has two children and a super cute dachshund she can’t get enough of. She writes contemporary romance, and is published with Kensington Publishing and Lyrical Press.

To find Diane on the web:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Sara Brookes author of Chasing Sin

2012-07-19T00:05:00.000-04:00

Our guest today is Sara Brookes author of Chasing Sin.

I get asked a lot about what my favorite genre is to write. Since I write in a wide variety of genres, that’s not surprising. There is no easy answer either. Why? I read a wide variety of books, watch a wide variety of movies and even listen to a wide array of music. Every story is different. From urban fantasy, futuristic, paranormal to contemporary—every situation is unique. Even more so because for the past two years, the majority of my work has been erotic romance featuring BDSM elements. That’s pretty unique itself.

While Chasing Sin doesn’t have any BDSM elements, it did allow me to combine a contemporary story where science plays heavily into the character’s lives. For me, that’s where the fun resides. And I can usually slide some kind of geeky bit into a book I’ve written—regardless of the genre. And sometimes it’s not even a character’s career.

In Chasing Sin, my storm chasers are obviously all scientists. But, like most of my stories, there are also little things that are probably only evident to me. And that’s usually why I do it—again, regardless of genre. Bet you’re wondering now, right? *g* How about a silly example: During the hurricane in Chasing Sin, Kate goes to her family’s home in Texas on Sulaco Island. Texas is real, obviously, but Sulaco Island is fictional. In fact, the name of the island was taken from the USS Sulaco, a fictional spaceship from the movie Aliens (did I happen to mention I’m a movie geek?).

There is usually always some kind of pop culture reference in my books no matter the genre. I’ve been known to make reference to Star Trek, Star Wars, Superman, Batman, X-Men, Blade Runner, etc—obviously not all at the same time. As long as I get the opportunity to inset an obscure reference that a few people may get, writing across all genres will always be my favorite.

Every spring, Kate risks her life chasing violent storms. Tired of watching her take unnecessary chances, two of her closest friends offer a different thrill. Devoted lovers Snyder and Tripp don’t just share a passion for nature’s fury; they long to have the fearless woman between them.
Though she is reluctant, she also knows the proposition is too irresistible to refuse. Her acceptance leads to an explosive night of no-holes-barred sex for the threesome. However, when morning dawns, she realizes this type of unusual relationship isn’t one she belongs in.
Despite her best efforts to keep the men at arm’s length, Kate finds herself facing down the storm of the century with them at her side. With Mother Nature intruding, the trio discovers shelter in each other’s arms. With the hurricane raging outside and passion raging inside, everything is at stake.

“We’re looking at a direct hit. Almost as if we had a great big target on my roof.” Sometimes it was all about knowing your gut and he’d bet anything those instincts drove her forecast. Kate sighed heavily as she pushed away from the table. “Though I don’t think it’s going to strengthen any more. Unless I’m wrong about that too.”

Doubt was a natural part of this business and he’d seen her have it enough to know she didn’t truly believe she’d made an error. “Should I remind you that after five years of chasing together you’ve never been wrong?”

Her eyes cut to the computer. “I think in this case I wish I was.”

“Wish you were what?” Tripp’s voice, still thick with sleep, sounded behind Snyder. He pressed a quick kiss to the back of Snyder’s neck as he passed, and Snyder took a moment to admire the way his ass moved under the towel he’d slung around his hips. “Got any coffee?”

“Third cabinet on the left. Top shelf.”

Snyder watched Kate’s focus return to the laptop but he’d seen something that caused him to smile. It had been subtle, and if he hadn’t been watching her, he would have missed it completely.

But seen it he had.

That faint shimmer of those strong eyes, the flash of red on her cheeks when Tripp came up behind him and kissed his neck, was hard to simply ignore. Whatever reason had driven her out of the hotel room that night hadn’t been because of the lack of desire. The brief flare had been enough to tell him she wanted them both still.

Lucky for them, sitting around waiting for this monster to get here at the end of the week left him plenty of time to get to the bottom of things. One of the few times he was certainly going to appreciate the downtime.

Ms. Brookes has done a wonderful job with just the right amount of romance, adventure, angst, and hot sex! I love that the characters are scientists/storm chasers. I felt a real "kinship" with them weathering a hurricane in Kate's hometown in Texas. I have lost two homes to hurricanes in my life so I can def relate! The relationship between Snyder and Tripp is great, they are so devoted to each other. I was anxiously awaiting to find out if Kate was going to be a part of their HEA or stay out there on her own. I highly recommend if you like m/m/f with an awesome adventure and love story thrown in!

Copy for review courtesy of the author.

AMAZON Chasing Sin

BARNES & NOBLE Chasing Sin

Sara Brookes is an award-winning author who has always been fascinated by the strange, the unusual, the twisted and the lost (tortured heroes are her personal favorite). She is an action movie junkie, addicted to coffee and has been known to stay up until the wee hours of the morning playing RPG video games. Despite all this, she is a romantic at heart and is always a sucker for an excellent love story. Born and bred in Virginia, Sara still lives there with her husband and daughter. The entire family is owned by two cats, Galahad and Loki, who graciously allow the family to cater to their every desire.

LINKS:

Website: www.sarabrookes.net
Twitter: @sara_brookes
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/brookesofbooks
Buy link: http://www.jasminejade.com/p-10037-chasing-sin.aspx

PRIZE INFORMATION

Author is giving away $50.00 gift card to Amazon for one random commenter on this tour

Jesse by C. H. Admirand

2012-07-18T23:16:00.000-04:00

JESSE

The Secret Life of Cowboys

C. H. Admirand

Sourcebooks Inc

July 1st 2012

238 pages

Loneliness Will Take a Man Places...

Jesse Garahan has plenty of Irish charm, but having had his heart demolished twice, he's sworn off women forever. Until the fateful day he meets Danielle Brockway and her tiny daughter on their way to their new home in Pleasure, Texas.

But There May Be Places He Doesn't Want To Go...

Fiercely protective of her little girl, Danielle isn't about to let Jesse get anywhere close enough to hurt either of them, no matter how much longing she sees in his eyes...

Jesse is the third book in The Secret Life of Cowboys series. IMHO it is the best one! I fell in love with Jesse in the first two books so enjoying him as the main character in this book was the best. Danielle is so protective of her little pink cowgirl I wasn't sure if she was going to let Jesse get close to either of them, some of the things that came out of that child's mouth had me cracking up, she is so precocious. The interaction between Dylan, Tyler and Jessie had me laughing out loud too and it was great seeing the way having women in their lives had changed the two older brothers, for the better I think! Highly recommend all three of these wonderful cowboys for a great escape!
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for review copy.

AMAZON Jesse (The Secret Life of Cowboys)

BARNES & NOBLE Jesse (The Secret Life of Cowboys)

Southern born... Northern bred

I was born in Aiken, South Carolina, but alas, my parents moved back to northern New Jersey where I grew up, which if you’ve met me would explain a lot. I’ve always had my nose in a book, have traveled the world over, and even tested the time-space continuum, thanks to the awesome power of the written word.

My love for the written word is a gift from my parents, but the need to write was instilled by my 7th Grade English teacher. One of my writing quirks is that I love to include bits and pieces of my ancestors and ancestry in all of my books. Check out my fun facts and genealogy page to see which characters are named after family or friends.

Fate, destiny and love at first sight will always play a large part in my stories because they played a major role in my life. When I saw my husband for the first time, I knew he was the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with. I’ve loved him forever…well…more than half my life. Each and every hero I write about has a few of Dave’s best qualities, his honesty, his integrity, his compassion for those in need and his killer broad shoulders. I’m such a sucker for a man with broad shoulders.

Giveaway/Review Beneath the Surface by Joya Fields

2012-07-18T00:05:00.000-04:00

BENEATH THE SURFACE

Joya Fields

Wild Rose Press

January 17th 2012

254 pages

She’s fighting to stay independent—he’s determined to protect her no matter what…

Brooke Richards survived the earthquake that took her parents and most of her leg, but she needs time to regroup. A trip to Florida for a state-of-the-art prosthesis and to visit her best friend Linda seems ideal. But the trip turns traumatic when Brooke witnesses Linda’s boat disintegrating in a fiery explosion.

Police officer Garrett Ciavello believes the blast was intentionally set to hide something Linda found on a dive. When Brooke offers her expertise in underwater archeology, Garrett accepts her help with the investigation. But since his fiancée’s death years ago, Garrett has become overprotective, and as they are drawn to each other, Garrett realizes he will risk anything to keep Brooke safe.

Brooke is fiercely independent. Garrett is fiercely protective. Will they heal each other’s wound and find a killer…before it’s too late?

For the first time since the accident, Brooke forgot about her leg. Forgot about all she’d lost and focused on the way Garrett made her feel.

She knew she needed to stop him. She should find a way to resist the temptation to be with him. But for a few minutes, she could enjoy the taste of him, the feel of him, couldn’t she?

He dropped his hands to her waist and softened the kiss before trailing a line of kisses down her neck. A weak cry slipped from her mouth. “Garrett,” she whispered.

She should stop this now before it got any more intense.

He lifted her chin and forced her to meet his brown eyes, smoky with desire. Heat spiraled to her middle and she caught a whiff of his sawdust scent.

“I…I can walk you back to your own room before I head to mine.” His voice broke as he whispered.

She swallowed hard. She couldn’t do this right now with him. Too many obstacles stood in their way. But as she looked in his somber eyes, she realized none of those complications were bigger than her need for Garrett.

“Let’s go to your room,” she said, her voice shaking. She moved her hands inside his shirt and ran them over his tight abs and chest. Heat soared through her body at the feel of him. “Together…”

I especially enjoyed this book, it was set in south Florida and having lived in the area for 15 years it was familiar to me. Ms. Fields did an excellent job handling Brooke's handicap and especially the way it seemed to make no difference at all to Garrett. I was fascinated by Brooke's expertise in underwater archaeology, I am going to have to do some more research on that particular field, it seems very interesting! Last but not least Garrett is absolutely yummy! Don't start this book unless you plan on staying up late! I read it all in one sitting because I was so caught up in solving the crime and spending time with Brooke and Garrett to see them find their HEA!
Review copy provided by the author.

AMAZON Beneath the Surface

BARNES & NOBLE Beneath the Surface

Joya Fields has had over 100 stories and articles published in local and national magazines and her debut novel, BENEATH THE SURFACE, a romantic suspense, released in January, 2012. LOVE DELIVERED, a contemporary romance, is also now available.

Over the years, Joya has taught arts and crafts, worked in public relations, owned a daycare center, helped her children raise prize-winning 4-H livestock, competed in three marathons, and even spent a year as a Baltimore Colts cheerleader. Joya loves spending time with her high school sweetheart/husband of over twenty years, two very supportive children, and a pug who follows her everywhere.

Joya Fields Online:

Website http://www.joyafields.com/

Blog http://joyafieldswriting.blogspot.com/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/#!/joya.fields

Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/JoyaFields

Good reads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5395700.Joya_Fields

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=joya+fields

Giving away an ecopy of the book, along with Beneath the Surface Romance Trading Cards and a signed bookmark to one commenter at each blog (10).

Additionally, a grand prize drawing of a Beneath the Surface tote bag filled with goodies for one commenter, drawn randomly, who comments on all 10 blogs that day: $25 Amazon gift card, autographed copy of Beneath the Surface, Beneath the Surface apron, notepad and pen, Romance Trading Cards, and autographed bookmark.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to visit all the other blogs on this tour....

Smitten with Reading Reviewing Shelf
My Cozie Corner Books, Books, and More Books T he Story of A Girl...
Understanding Shae's Story Purple Penguin Reviews ¡Miraculous! A Date with A Book T B R Lissette E. Manning Words I Write Crazy Ramblings of an Amateur Writer A Night's Dream of Books

Just One More by Stephanie Beck

2012-07-17T00:05:00.000-04:00

JUST ONE MORE

Stephanie Beck

Beachwalk Press

August 13th 2011

297 pages

Two is enough, but three could be everything.
Kit and Adam Jacobs know what their marriage needs—Gavan Karik. He's the one man they both want and the only one who can make their relationship complete.
Making Gav part of the family comes with a price. Family, infidelity and self-worth issues plague Gav, but Adam and Kit are willing to tackle those issues if Gav is willing to commit.
For every problem they conquer, another one pops up. Not only are the three adults working to meld a broken family into one, they're also struggling with a blackmailer threatening to out the two men's sexuality and issues with the kids being mistreated at school. With each battle all three have to decide if the vision each sees for the future can match and if the reward is worth the fight.
Content Warning: Strong language, graphic sex, and explicit incidents of laundry washing within.

"And the sleeping arrangements?" Gav asked.
Adam knew this question had been weighing on the other man. Gav had played thirds in relationships before. Usually, the third was a plaything, in for pleasure, out for the intimacy.
"You'd be in our room. The 'our' would include you," Adam told him. "I'll steal your t-shirts to wear to bed, and we'll share the task of warming Kit's cold toes every night. We'll have amazing sex when we're all in the mood together. We'll have nearly as amazing sex in pairs if the third is in the mood to watch or sleep. There won't be favorites, but, because we've been together so long, Kit and I might slip up there on occasion. You'll have to be patient with us, Gav."
"And once our open relationship includes you," Kit said, "it turns into a closed one. We don't cheat or lie, and we tell each other if our needs change."
Adam watched to see what Gav's reaction to that big rule would be. It was one he supported wholeheartedly. Within the terms of their relationship, he and Kit had never once cheated. They were open, honest, and made the decisions and compromises needed to keep them happy. But his heart was hers. Always. If Gav decided to take the plunge, Adam's heart would grow to include him, and he would never cheat on him either.
Loyalty and faithfulness in an open relationship seemed like oxymorons, but not the way he and Kit worked. They were a unit, a family. If Gav chose, he could be the piece that had been missing from the start.
Gav covered his face and rubbed much harder than Adam would have rubbed any place on his lover's body. He didn't like to see Gav being so rough with himself. He hated when the other man treated his body harshly. It was because no one else had cared for him. He saw himself as worth less than most and acted on that vision. If he'd quit being stubborn, Adam would try every day to prove him wrong. There would be fabric softener for Gav's clothes and something sweet for him when he wanted a treat. It was the little things Adam knew he and Kit took for granted that would make the most difference with Gav.
"I don't know." Gav didn't look past his hands at either of them as he spoke. "I'll think about it. There's nothing in there I don't think I can do, I just…I need to think."
"That's fine, Gav," Kit said gently. "Time is something we have, and we'd never rush you."
"I know that." His sigh was heavy and haggard. "I know all the good things about you guys, and Kit, it's nothing in you that's missing. It's me. You have to know that. No matter what happens, it's not you. It's me."
"But I love you just the way you are," she replied. "So that means there's something amazing in you if you'll let it out."

Kit and Adam need Gav in their "family" almost as much as they need each other. The three of them all have different issues they have to learn to deal with and what made the story so good was the fact that each of them helped the other deal with their problems. It also realistically dealt with the kinds of things that a menage family would have to deal with concerning the kids, neighbors, friends, etc...even blackmail! This is a great book! I love the fact that in addition to all the really HOT menage scenes there was actually a story there! I highly recommend this book if you like menage stories. Ebook supplied by the author for review.

Available in print and digital

Beachwalk Press

Amazon

All Romance

B&N

Even before she understood what all the thrusting meant, Stephanie Beck loved reading romance. When the stories didn’t end the way she wanted, writing her own was the perfect solution. From ridiculous humor to erotica, Stephanie loves being transported within a story. When she’s not elbow deep in words, her husband and three children command her attention. After they are sleeping she knits or bakes cookies…or squeezes in more writing.

Stephanie loves to hear from readers. Contact her at stephaniebeckauthor@gmail.com

Website / Twitter / Facebook

Spotlight/Giveaway The Chosen by Annette Gisby

2012-07-16T00:05:00.000-04:00

The Chosen

Annette Gisby

Lyrical Press

March 2010

200 pages

Love or duty -- which would you choose? Prince Severin has been brought up to put duty before all else. Now, his duty is to marry and produce an heir. He has his choice of princesses. Unfortunately, his passion is for princes. Havyn has been a slave all his life. When his powers are discovered, he finds himself purchased and freed by a Prince and apprenticed to the royal wizard, Ildar. His duty is to stay chaste to keep his powers strong. Unfortunately, his passion is for Severin. With kingdoms at war, the throne hanging in the balance, and magic in the air, can the two men find happiness together, or is duty more important than love?

“What is going on in here?” demanded Ildar from the doorway. “Severin? What are you doing with my apprentice?”

“Iri and I were just sorting out Havyn’s new wardrobe,” said Severin, waving to Havyn that he could get dressed again. Havyn quickly pulled on the tunic and leggings Ildar had given him on his first night at the palace. A fierce blush heated his cheeks.

“Havyn is my apprentice!” snapped Ildar. “He is my responsibility. Furs and velvets? Silks? A wizard has no need for all of that. I will ensure Havyn gets all the clothing he needs, not you.”

Havyn wondered how the wizard could talk back so forcefully to a prince without worrying about execution. Maybe wizards had no fear of death.

“He’s my responsibility,” protested Severin, his hands on his hips as he stared the wizard down. “I bought him. He’s mine!”

AMAZON The Chosen

BARNES & NOBLE The Chosen

Annette Gisby grew up in a small town in Northern Ireland. Being a very small town there were no bookshops and a small library. When she'd devoured every book she could get her hands on in the library, she started writing her own stories so that she would always have something to read.

When not writing she enjoys reading, playing The Sims, cinema and theatre. She loves to travel, especially ancient castles and deserted beaches, great places for inspiration.

She currently lives in Hampshire with her husband, a collection of porcelain dolls and enough books to fill a library. The library is diminishing gradually since the discovery of ebooks but still has a long way to go.

Website / Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rodeo Rebel by Debra Kayn

2012-07-14T00:05:00.000-04:00

RODEO REBEL

Debra Kayn

Entangled Publishing

June 15th 2012

242 pages

When widower and land baron Cole Reardon acquired the Turner Grain Corporation, he didn't know the company sponsored a bull rider. He refuses to support thrill-seekers dumb enough to get on the back of a crazed animal. He’s not willing to risk his fortune and livelihood when he has his daughter's well-being to consider. Not even when the bull rider is the sexiest woman he's ever seen.

Bull rider Florentine McDougal plans to turn pro after the season championship, fulfilling her lifelong dream of succeeding in a man’s world. That is, until Cole Reardon shows up and threatens to break his sponsorship contract with her. Now everything she’s worked for is less than eight seconds away from being destroyed.

Cole distracts Florentine with his sexy mouth and unreasonable demands, and he's not going to compromise his integrity. But she's not going to let him loose until she has pro status. And neither will come away from this dust-up unscathed.

Rodeo Rebel is the first book I’ve read in the McDougal Ranch series by Debra Kayn and I was not disappointed. I could not put this book down and finished it all in one sitting. Now I just have to read the rest of the series. Ms. Kayn has done a great job of character development and making readers care about them.

In Rodeo Rebel, Florentine is a strong, sexy, fearless bull rider trying to be the first woman to win a major tournament and turn pro, at the same time trying to convince Cole Reardon, owner of Turner Grain Corporation to remain her sponsor until the end.

Cole is a single dad after his thrill-seeking wife died in an accident and he does not want to be involved in anything he deems dangerous that could possibly influence his daughter, Sarah. A bull riding accident has Florentine, Cole and Sarah spending more time together back at McDougal Ranch during her recuperation. The chemistry between Florentine and Cole sizzles! And Florentine has a great deal of love and affection for Sarah. I loved the relationship Sarah had with all the sisters, it was so realistic. Cole was a bit overprotective but I liked that he wanted what was best for his daughter. I cannot wait to read the other books in this series.

Ebook copy provided by the publisher for review.

AMAZON Rodeo Rebel (Sisters of McDougal Ranch)

BARNES & NOBLE Rodeo Rebel (Sisters of McDougal Ranch)

Multipublished Romance Author, Debra Kayn, lives with her family in the beautiful coastal mountains of Oregon on a hobby farm. During the summer, she enjoys riding motorcycles, gardening, playing tennis, and fishing. During the winter, you’ll find her outside playing in the snow. A cold weather nut, she lives for the days she’s snowbound and fighting with the wood-stove to keep the house warm when the power goes out. A huge animal lover, she always has a dog under her desk when she writes and chickens standing at the front door looking for a treat. She's famous in her family for teaching a 270 lb pig named Harley to jog with her every morning. Her love of family ties and laughter makes her a natural to write heartwarming contemporary stories to the delight of her readers. As someone who met her husband on a blind date when she was nineteen years old, she’s a believer of love at first sight and happily ever after.
She loves to hear from her readers. Feel free to drop her an email: debrakayn@debrakayn.com

A Night of Southern Comfort

2012-07-13T00:05:00.000-04:00

A Night of Southern Comfort

Robin Covington

Entangled Publishing

June 15th 2012

227 pages

One night of passion...

Detective Jackson Cantrell never imagined that one night with an irresistible stranger would turn his life upside down. He’s spent years living in the shadows, but Dr. Michaela Roarke awakened a passion inside him he'd buried years ago.
He never expected the woman would turn out to be the governor's daughter...and his next assignment. The governor blackmails Jackson to secretly watch over Michaela and protect her from a stalker, or kiss his dream job at the FBI good-bye. Swearing to keep things strictly professional, Jackson moves in with Michaela. Too bad his heart can't keep the same promise.
But when the stalker's attacks quickly escalate beyond mere photographs to bodily harm, Jackson must race to save Michaela's life. And he’ll have to figure out how to keep her once she discovers his lie.

Wow! Romance that sizzles and suspense that keeps you turning pages~ I was captivated by this book from the first page. Jackson and Michaela are great characters. Michaela is a very strong woman and I had to admire her from the very beginning when she "picks up" Jackson in the hotel bar even that took a lot of nerve and then she manages to start a whole new life away from her father, he is just evil.
Jackson is just enough of a "damaged" hero to make you want to kiss and make it all better for him. I would have gladly taken Michaela's place!
I can see more stories coming from Ms. Covington there are a couple of secondary characters who really need their story told (hint,hint) she has a winner here and I can't wait to see what comes next!

Ebook copy supplied by publisher for review.

AMAZON A Night of Southern Comfort

BARNES & NOBLE A Night of Southern Comfort

On her fortieth birthday, best-selling author Robin Covington decided that having a mid-life crisis and finding a boy-toy were far too tacky, so she delved a little deeper into the “bucket list” and pulled out the long-shelved dream of
becoming an author. Now, she spends her time writing sizzling romance where the hero and heroine can’t keep their hands off each other.

She doesn’t miss the boy-toy at all.

Happily exploring the theme of fooling around and falling in love, her stories burn up the sheets . . . one page at a time.

Her best-selling debut novel, A NIGHT OF SOUTHERN COMFORT, is available from the Indulgence Line at Entangled Publishing.

Robin is a member of the Romance Writers of America, the Washington Romance Writers, a faculty member at Romance University, a member of the Waterworld Mermaids, and a guest contributor to the Happy Ever After blog at USA Today.

Robin lives in Maryland with her hilarious husband, brilliant children, and ginormous puppy.

Sizzling Scoop Sign Up & Giveaway

2012-07-12T08:59:00.000-04:00

http://sizzlingpr.com/sizzling-scoop/

Sizzling Scoop, is your one stop for all your book news. Interviews and blogs with your favorite authors, as well as articles, reviews, book news (release information, and events), submission calls and more.

If Sizzling Scoop can reach 500 signups on Mailchimp by launch (September 1^st) we will give away a Kindle Fire. There will also be giveaways for a $25 gift card for Amazon, and two $10 gift cards for Amazon. The winner’s will be announced in the first issue of Sizzling Scoop. To sign up for Sizzling Scoop please follow this link

Sizzling Scoop will launch September 1st, 2012.

Upcoming themes:

September – Self publishing

October – Paranormal

November – Erotic (warming up a chilly night)

December – Christmas/Holiday

January – Tips & Tricks on writing, publishing, & marketing

Sizzling Scoop is open to submissions of articles, blogs, short stories, and any other information you think readers would be interested in.

Ad Space Prices

Full Page ½ Page ¼ page

Inside cover (second page) $25 $15 $10

Pages (within the magazine) $20 $15 $10

Back cover (last page) $10 $8

Book Cover Spot $5

Spotlight/Review The Great Outdoors

2012-07-11T00:02:00.000-04:00

The Great Outdoors

Becky Moore
Decadent Publishing
March 18th 2012
44 pages

Tallulah Murphy is a busy woman. As the newly appointed Director of Education for the Atlanta Art Museum, she has a thousand and one things to do on any given day. Dating is not high on that list; in fact, it’s not even on the radar. Three hundred miles away in Charleston, South Carolina, Lieutenant Mitchell Weaver is gearing up for his promotion to be the youngest police chief in the city’s history. And unfortunately, as a prominent city official with all eyes watching his every move, a quality date seems untenable. But when good friends and good fortune set Tallulah and Mitch on a fateful adventure with Madame Evangeline’s high-end dating service, 1 Night Stand, they may just find that a little matchmaking magic can reset their spirits of adventure, and open their hearts and minds to the possibility of love.

Lou stared at the screen, a little stunned.

After a silent moment, Allison elbowed her in the ribs. “So, a cop, huh? That sounds pretty sexy. Maybe he’ll bring his gun with him.”

Lou laughed and read the message from the top again. “I love surprises but this makes me a little uneasy. What if he’s really aggressive? I’ve only dated artists and guys like Donald. And check out that description—likes to play board games. Good grief, what if he’s a total goober?” She groaned.

“Then you’re also a goober because you’re charitable and you like board games. I sort of like her approach. She’s matching y’all up because you fit, like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. She’s not focusing on any kind of physical beauty. Come on—you had that, and Donald was a dick.”

“You’re right. I know. It just worries me when a date’s described as he’s a nice guy.” She sighed and closed her eyes for a second. “Okay, this’ll be fun. There’s no pressure to do anything except enjoy our adventure. If he’s a cop, he’s bound to be in good enough shape to hike, right?”

“Atta girl. It’s nice that your adventure’s over the weekend, so you don’t have to take any time off.”

“Especially since Madame’s only giving us a week. Geesh.”

“Actually, that’s not such a bad idea for you. Maybe she felt you’d chicken out or find some silly excuse for changing plans if you had lots of lead-time. You don’t have enough time to be nervous. Speaking of which, do you have everything you’ll need?”

“Yep. I bought a new pair of boots last fall, and I’m mostly set for clothes.”

Allison nodded. “I can’t wait until you get the picture. Will you forward it to me before you leave?”

“I’ll probably have to send it from my phone, but I’ll forward it as soon as she sends it.”

“I’m dying of curiosity, but I also want a picture in case he’s a psycho. You know, in case I have to share something with the FBI. I’m just saying.” She reached into her lunchbox and pulled out two chocolate pudding cups, and handed one over to share.

Holy shit! Lou felt faint. Black spots danced in her periphery and panic swelled in her throat.

“Louie, I’m kidding,” Allison said, laughing. “I’m just messing with you. He’s a policeman. He’s safe. Really.”

She blinked for a moment, then shook her head and opened the pudding. He’s not a psycho killer…no way would this 1Night Stand place stay in business if they killed their customers. Right? Taking a bite, she thought how good an adventure would be. And who cared if she found Mr. Right. Mr. Right Now sounded pretty good, too.

This book is one of the 1Night Stand Series, I have read several of them and they are all good!

Tallulah and Mitch's great little magical adventure was a great short escape. At first you don't think they fit together very well, but once you get to know more of her stories you realize Madame Evangeline is always right! It was very well written with great characters and a satisfying ending. Enjoy! I did!

Ebook supplied by the author for review.

AMAZON The Great Outdoors-1 Night Stand Series

BARNES & NOBLE The Great Outdoors-1 Night Stand Series

Becky Moore is tall and buxom, highly educated and culturally savvy…well, three outta four ain’t bad.

She’s a world traveler, problem solver, and crusader. Thankful for the love of reading she inherited from her mom, mother to a superbly cool kid, wife to the world’s most handsome man. A mental-marathon runner, freelance photographer, faithful companion to Magnolia May the beagle, and a prolific reader and writer.

She’s an active member of her local Romance Writers of America chapter, the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers.

In her down time, and in the real world, Becky loves to spend time with her husband and son. They live in the urban wilds of central North Carolina. Becky is an avid gardener, biker, kayaker, bicyclist, knitter, and community volunteer. She spent over a dozen years working as a writer, graphic artist, photographer and PR whiz in the pharmaceutical advertising, hi-tech, performing arts, and HIV/AIDS (grantwriting) fields before venturing into her current status of full-time author. And like her favorite characters, when you close her books, Becky will be just be a fond memory.

Website / Facebook / Twitter

RELEASE DAY!! Worth The Risk

2012-07-10T00:05:00.000-04:00

WORTH THE RISK

Karen Erickson

Samhain Publishing

July 10th 2012

194 pages

How to make a strong man fall hard? Refuse him.

Hunter Worth lives life to the absolute fullest. As vice president and head of brand marketing for Worth Luxury Goods, he’s brought his family’s business firmly into the twenty-first century. Ruthless yet charming, he’s now set his sights on the sexiest member of the marketing team. First thing on his agenda? Seduction.
Gracie Hayes needs her job at Worth—and she’s not about to let the gorgeous owner and her direct boss distract her—again. Orphaned, and with a rough childhood behind her, she’s worked too hard to compromise everything for a fling, no matter how tempting. Independent, strong and resourceful, she will fight off Hunter. She has to.
Flirting, stolen kisses, a few nights of scorching hot sex…Hunter has all that in mind and more with the delicious Gracie. He never figures he’d fall in love or that she’d deny him. How will Hunter convince Gracie he’s the one for her?

Warning: Contains yet another one of those sexy, bossy Worth brothers, though this one is too full of charm for his own good. Watch as he falls hard—and watch as she tries her hardest to dodge his every attempt at seduction.

This is the second book in Ms. Erickson's Worth It series and I have to say this one is as good as the first one! I loved Alex's story in the first book Worth the Scandal. This one focuses on Hunter, the middle Worth brother. I fell for him at the very beginning, I had already made up my mind if Gracie didn't come to her senses before the end of the book I would take him off her hands!
Given the horrid childhood Gracie had I can't blame her for being so careful with her feelings, and I found myself really wanting to tell off her grandmother, that woman was driving me nuts!
Ms. Erickson is a wonderful storyteller and I can't wait for Rhett's story coming in Worth the Challenge, he seems absolutely yummy!~ Ebook provided by author for review.

AMAZON Worth the Risk

BARNES & NOBLE Worth the Risk

After leaving the working world to become a stay at home mom, Karen Erickson realized she needed to get busy and pursue her life long dream of becoming a published writer. She was first published in 2006.

A busy mother of three, she fits her precious writing time in between chasing her children, taking care of her wonderful husband and wrangling the cats, dog and chickens. She lives in California.

To see what she's up to, please visit www.karenerickson.com

Cover Reveal! Empty Nest

2012-07-09T00:05:00.000-04:00

EMPTY NEST

Assassins #3

Toni Aleo

September 10th 2012

Synopsis:

Definition of an Empty Net: When a team pulls the goalie for an extra attacker, desperately seeking a goal.

Audrey Parker was in a horrible place.

She hated her job, her sister was getting married and moving out, but worst of all, she was in love with a total jerk. No matter what she did, every guy she met hurt her. All she wanted was her happily ever after. Her Prince Charming. Her Lucas Brooks! She didn’t know how to change her life but she knew she needed too.

Feeling like she was about to hit rock bottom, Audrey wakes up next to Tate Odder.

Tate Odder had lost everything.

After being brought up from the Assassins’ farm team, the Florida Rays to the Nashville Assassins, Tate hopes he’ll forget everything he has lost. He doesn’t. Each day gets harder to live in a place he doesn’t know. Even being the first rookie goalie to shut out an opposing team three times during the Lord Stanly Cup Finals, he still felt empty. With the loss of his parents and sister still heavy on his heart, Tate isn’t sure how to live like everything is okay.

But when he wakes up beside Audrey Parker, things start to change. She turns his life upside down with her kooky sense of humor and her bright clothing. She is intelligent and beautiful, and for once, he doesn’t feel empty.

Will Audrey be the person to fill the holes in Tate’s heart, making him whole again?

Or will another player ruin everything, leaving him feeling forever like an empty net?

Excerpt

“I have to tell you,” she said with a shy grin, “It’s usually not this easy.”
He looked down at her questionably, “Easy how?”
“This easy to pick me up. I usually make guys work for it.”
He grinned and her smiled grew more, “So you want me too?”
She eyed him, her face bright with excitement. He may have been a little too forward but he was a blunt person, and hardly ever hid his feelings from anyone.
She moved closer, her eyes bright with lust as she said, “I do and I don’t even know you’re name.”
“Do you want to know it?” he asked with a cocky grin.
She moved in close, her wide brown eyes locked with his, “All I want to know is when you can leave? I have a room not even a mile from here.”

Author Bio

I am a wife, mother, and hopeless romantic.

I have been told I have anger issues, but I think it’s cause of my intense love for hockey!
I am the biggest Shea Weber fan ever, and can be found during hockey season with my nose pressed against the Bridgestone Arena’s glass, watching my Nashville Predators play!
When my nose isn’t pressed against the glass, I enjoy going to my husband and son’s hockey games, my daughters dance competition, hanging with my best friends, taking pictures, and reading the latest romance novel.
I love things that sparkle, I love the color pink, and did I mention I love hockey?

Website

Facebook

Twitter: tonilovesweber6

Links to Buy Will Be Available Upon Release

Get the first 2 books in the series
Amazon
Barnes and Noble

Spotlight On: This Tangled Thing Called Love

2012-07-02T00:05:00.000-04:00

Twenty-eight-year-old Claire Chatfield has everything a girl could possibly wish for: looks, a promising career at New York’s top architectural firm, and an engagement ring from one of New York’s most eligible heir-bachelors! Life should be a dream, but when Alec Brunell, a sexy tango dancer, moves into the apartment one floor above from Claire’s, he unwittingly awakens Claire’s old insecurities, making her question her life choices. Will Claire brave her fears and allow herself to take a chance on Alec, or will she continue to play it safe?

In order to secure his place as his father’s successor, thirty-three-year-old David Lawson must settle down with a wife befitting the future head of Lawson Enterprises - and who could fit the prerequisite better than the stunningly beautiful and incredibly bright Claire Chatfield? There is just one glitch – David Lawson is in love with another woman – a Hollywood Legend Claudia Block.

A successful tango instructor, Alec Brunell has never lacked for women’s attention, but he finds himself at a loss when faced with his downstairs neighbor, Claire Chatfield. Upon hearing of his occupation, most women swoon with desire, but Claire runs for the door. Still, her iciness only adds fuel to his fire, as Alec is determined to change Claire’s view of him.

This Tangled Thing Called Love is a love story about finding one’s perfect match - sometimes following one’s heart is as convoluted as learning the steps of tango.

Alec opened the door of his apartment and carefully placed the bundled package from the art gallery onto the floor. His new digs were shaping up quite nicely: the red wall he repainted added just the right amount of dramatic flair he had been hoping for, and the newly washed parquet floors sparkled. The art deco tango poster he had asked the gallery owner to track down for him would be the final touch. Alec shook his head, remembering his botched attempt at painting – sure, he could slather paint with a roller all day long, but to think that he could actually paint had been overconfident. His attempt to draw a silhouette of a tango couple had turned into a complete fiasco and he had to repaint the red wall. Well, now it was finally dry and ready for the poster to be hung up.

Alec reached for his tool kit, searching for the hook strong enough to hold up the poster’s weighty frame – the frame had cost almost as much as the poster did, but it was well worth it. As he plunged the drill bit into the wall, Alec felt his frustration ebbing – there was no point in sulking. So, Claire had a boyfriend – there were plenty of fish in the sea, and he had never found himself wanting in the women’s department. And yet, the thought of his downstairs neighbor with another man made his mouth turn sour with jealousy. Alec’s competitive streak had always been strong, but it was more than that. Granted, he had only seen Claire for a handful of moments, and she was snapping at him during the majority of them, but for some perverse reason, her irate demeanor only seemed to fuel his interest in her – perhaps, he was a closet masochist. He had never shied away from a challenge, but presently, he had to admit that he had struck out on this one.

Marie will be giving away three prizes of custom made jewelry (pictured below -- Prize #1: Coral necklace sterling silver chandelier coral earrings set, Prize #2 Blue opal sterling silver plated necklace and Prize #3 Sterling silver chandelier earrings with green aventurine, rose quartz and amethyst) to three randomly drawn commenters during the tour (Continental US only).

AMAZON This Tangled Thing Called Love

Marie Astor is a die-hard romantic who wholeheartedly believes in true love, which is why she writes in the contemporary romance genre. Marie is the author of contemporary romance novels This Tangled Thing Called Love, Lucky Charm, On the Rim of Love, and a short story collection, A Dress in a Window.

If you would like to learn more about Marie’s writing, please stop by her website: www.marieastor.com to sign up for book release updates and events or visit her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/marieastorcollection

Books by Marie Astor:

This Tangled Thing Called Love – a contemporary romance about overcoming one’s inhibitions, learning to tango, and finding one’s true match.

http://www.amazon.com/Dance-Me-Stars-Contemporary-ebook/dp/B0078IPNCW/ref=pd_sim_kstore_3?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2

Lucky Charm – a humorous contemporary romance about love, luck and friendship.

http://www.amazon.com/Lucky-Charm-Contemporary-Romance-ebook/dp/B005BZL3L4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336842915&sr=8-1

On the Rim of Love – a contemporary romance about the unexpected power of love.

http://www.amazon.com/On-Rim-Love-Contemporary-ebook/dp/B005TOWI7K/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2

A Dress in a Window – a collection of short stories about love, coincidences, and fate.

http://www.amazon.com/Chance-Encounter-Other-Stories-ebook/dp/B004E112TO/ref=pd_sim_kstore_5?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2

Social Media Links:

Website: http://www.marieastor.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/marieastorcollection

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4665230.Marie_Astor

Twitter: @marieastor

Guest post: author Ann Montclair

2012-06-29T00:05:00.000-04:00

Summer Memories

by Ann Montclair

Summer Vacation. How many essays boasting that title did you write each fall semester? I’d listen enviously as kids bragged about trips to Disney, Hawaii, the Grand Canyon, even Switzerland. As if being blond haired, blue eyed, and Swedish weren’t enough, one girl went to Switzerland every summer!

Where did I go? Nowhere. My dad worked every day except Mondays, and my mom had every kind of phobia imaginable, the biggest one being the fear of leaving your house for summer vacation. So my parents compensated me with a built in swimming pool. I recall the hot summer day they bulldozed the brick wall, tore out the lemon and plum trees, and started digging the hole. Within a few months, we had a huge pool.

I spent most summers flat on my back on the hot concrete competing for “woman with the most wrinkles when grown.” I’m sure I won. I was an only child, but my mom did peer through the screen door every once in a while and make sure I was alive. I had friends over occasionally, too, but it seemed like my popularity soared only when the temperature did, and I avoided fair-weather friends. Still do.

I can’t complain about anything, really. But summer vacation was long, even tedious, and I anticipated returning to school long before we cooked hot dogs to celebrate Labor Day.

As an adult, my family vacations often. We’ve taken trips to many of the national parks, visited the world’s best beaches, stayed in mountain chalets and five star hotels, camped under soaring Redwoods and under star spangled skies—vacation is always something new, something adventurous.

My parents sold their house a few years ago, and I miss the pool most of all. Come to find out, the long, hot days spent alone beside the shimmer of chlorinated water made me the writer I am. I’d spend those long hours imagining my future life, the lives of others, and the stories I’d write someday.

It isn’t a coincidence that One Wet Summer is set poolside at a resort in sultry Savannah, Georgia. The setting is a thank you and a love letter to my parents—who cared enough to give me all they could and certainly much better than they ever had.

One Wet Summer

Ann Montclair

Musa Publishing

May 24th 2012

Maura Fields loves her uncomplicated, independent, single life, but things quickly change when a summer vacation opens the door to an unexpected world of passion and desire. Wealthy Savannah hotelier Ben Driscoll had his playboy lifestyle upended when his ex-wife died, entrusting him to care for their daughter—a child he sequesters and vows to protect from future heartache and disappointment. Can the wall Ben has built around his heart withstand the assault from the intriguing, beguiling Maura, or will it crumble, leaving him vulnerable to the undeniable attraction and unbridled need to make her his own?

Maura had nothing to lose and everything to gain. Why not? What was she here for? Fun. And escape from the responsibilities of catering to children. This man looked like more fun than she had ever had, and Savannah was certainly an escape from the confines of her seventh grade classroom at Atlanta Mills Middle School. Ms. Fields was just Maura today, and damn, it felt good.

“My name is Maura Fields,” she said, and she giggled as his lips pursed—as if he were tasting her name and found he liked its flavor. “Maura Fields: single woman, no complications. Are you married, encumbered in any way? I hate to be so blunt, Ben, but I am a woman alone on vacation, and I don’t want to find myself taken advantage of, even by someone as beguiling as you.”

He looked taken aback as his blue eyes rounded and one eyebrow arched. “Ms. Fields, I am not married. Does that make you feel more at ease with my invitation?”

“Why, yes, it does!” she couldn’t help but exclaim.

“So, I will see you at four, ready to swim?” he inquired again, but this time it sounded like a statement, a predetermined actuality. Maura liked an assertive man, especially one so dapper. She nodded her head affirmatively, not trusting herself to make a dignified sound.

Ben bowed slightly and slowly raked his brilliant eyes over her body, toe to top. With an appreciative smile playing about his sexy mouth, he said, “Maura, you’re the best thing that has happened around this old place in a very long time.”

This is a great summertime read! I loved the location in Savannah, it fit perfectly in the story line. Made me want to take my vacation there. The characters were great, Maura seemed so well rounded and sure of herself and Ben was awesome in the way he had changed his life for his daughter and he seemed to love her so much. Ben was a little overprotective of his daughter but I think that was to be expected after everything she had been through. This was one of those books that had you hoping for that HEA for all the characters! Highly recommend for a summer contemporary romance escape! Ebook supplied by author for review.

AMAZON One Wet Summer

BARNES & NOBLE One Wet Summer

MUSA PUBLISHING One Wet Summer

I was born in Los Angeles, California, where my parents and grown daughter now reside. I currently live in the Finger Lakes region of New York with my sexy hero, our handsome son, and a pile of lazy dogs and ferocious cats. I enjoy a plethora of hobbies including but not limited to attending concerts, hiking and cycling, cooking, and gardening. I love to dance, to dress up, and I'll go just about anywhere a good time can be had.

I've built a satisfying career as an English professor at a small, rural community college, and now I'm also writing and publishing romance. I've finished and sold a few contemporary titles, and I'm working on perfecting a Tudor historical, and penning a modern day romantic suspense.

I plan to spend the rest of my life reading and writing in my little cabin in the woods.

My biggest wish is that each of my readers will be inspired to believe in and find their own happily-ever-after.

LINKS

Web site: http://www.annmontclair.com

Blog: http://annmontclair.wordpress.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AnnMontclairFanPage

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/AnnMontclair

Buy link: http://www.musapublishing.com/

Top Ten Reasons to Fall in Love with Marco Vieri

2012-06-28T10:05:00.000-04:00

Love to Read Romance welcomes our guest today....
Laura Kaye author of Her Forbidden Hero

Top Ten Reasons to Fall in Love with Marco Vieri

Today I’m very excited to be at Love to Read Romance to share my recent contemporary romance release, Her Forbidden Hero. I simply adored writing this book, which first came to me with the vision of a badly damaged man sitting in the near dark struggling to play the guitar. That’s the way it is for me, usually, a character—and most frequently the hero—will come to me and tell his story. And there haven’t been many heroes I’ve loved writing more than Her Forbidden Hero’s Marco Vieri. So, since I adore heroes, I thought I’d share the top ten reasons I think you just might fall in love with mine:

10) Marco is tortured by the guilt over the deaths of his Army Special Forces teammates. He believes his own failure of judgment caused their deaths, and therefore feels unworthy of the solace and comfort love could provide. He believes he deserves the pain he feels.

9) He is protective of those he loves and selfless to a fault, denying himself what he needs so he can give others—especially his best friend’s younger sister Alyssa—what they need first.

8) He’s has a warrior’s heart. Marco stands for honor, doing what is right, protecting the defenseless and standing up for the innocent. He is a hero in every definition of the word.

7) He has a warrior’s body. Marco is six-foot-three-inches of hard muscle honed under the hardest, most trying circumstances. Even after being discharged from the Army Special Forces, he runs relentlessly and kickboxes to keep his reflexes and instincts sharp. And he has the scars to prove his willingness to sacrifice himself for brothers and country.

6) He has dark hair and bright blue eyes. And it’s a killer combination.

5) He drives a ’67 Mustang. As if Marco wasn’t hot enough, picture him in this car.

4) He is all alpha. From his Special Forces background to risking his life for his country. From his protectiveness to his tortured heart. From his defense of Alyssa over and over to his finally giving in to take what he wants, Marco is the living, breathing embodiment of the strong, alpha male.

3) He knows what he wants, and what he wants is Alyssa Scott. The desire and possessiveness that floods through him shocks even Marco, and when he finally gives in…let’s just say I. Love. That. Scene.

2) He’s a skilled lover. Just ask Alyssa. Whether he’s claiming her in a mountain lake or in his bed, he knows how to please. Me likey! And you will too!

1) He sings and plays the guitar. Did anyone else just melt? Because I know I’m a totally sucker for a hottie with an instrument in his hands!

Need more convincing? Read on…

Warm arms came around his stomach as Alyssa embraced him from behind. Her head settled between his shoulder blades and, without telling his hand to move, he found himself clutching her hands to his chest.

He gave in to the comfort of her touch and absorbed everything he could from her. The magic of her music still swirled in the air, and in his mind’s eye, he saw himself turning in her arms, bending down, clutching her face in his hands, and drawing their mouths together. He’d walk her backward through the house as their hands tugged at shirts and bared skin. They’d end up on the bed and she’d be all splayed out, warm and his for the taking.

Alyssa nuzzled into his back and pressed a kiss against his shoulder.

He sucked in a breath, his erection punching against the fly of his jeans again. But it wouldn’t just be sex. Not with her. The ache in his chest and the constriction in his throat, that was about the part of him that wanted to comfort her and be comforted in return, that wanted companionship and a place to belong. It would be about lo—

He shook his head, clamping down on the tail end of that thought. Without question, Alyssa would give him everything he wanted and more, but what he wanted was just a bunch of fantasy bullshit for someone like him.

It killed him to do so, but he twisted free of her arms and forced himself to face her. Frustration and regret weighed on his shoulders like an anvil. “This”—he waved his finger back and forth between them and swallowed down a river of sadness—“this right here. This can’t happen.”

Alyssa’s expression morphed from surprise into hurt, and the tinge of pink on her cheeks revealed a healthy dose of embarrassment mixed in.

Wasn’t that the sour cherry on his shit sundae? Hurting her was the last thing he wanted to do, but better to hurt her a little now than a lot later.

Aww, Marco! LOL

GIVEAWAY! Did you have a favorite reason to fall in love with Marco Vieri? Comment with your email address and be entered to win an ebook of Her Forbidden Hero! Open to international! Good luck!

You always want what you can't have...

She's always been off-limits...

Former Army Special Forces Sgt. Marco Vieri has never thought of Alyssa Scott as more than his best friend's little sister, but her return home changes that...and challenges him to keep his war-borne demons at bay. Marco's not the same person he was back when he protected Alyssa from her abusive father, and he's not about to let her see the mess he's become.

...but now she's all grown up.

When Alyssa takes a job at the bar where Marco works, her carefree smiles wreak havoc on his resolve to bury his feelings. How can he protect her when he can't stop thinking about her in his bed? But Alyssa's not looking for protection--not anymore. Now that she's back in his life, she's determined to heal her forbidden hero, one touch at a time...

WOW I didn't need 10 reasons to fall in love with Marco, I mean just look at that picture! Then read his story. I loved this book! I have the greatest respect for our military (my son is one), those who serve are the best heroes! Ms. Kaye does a wonderful job of portraying our injured heroes coming home from war with both mental and physical problems. Alyssa has also been through more than her share of hard times which I believe really helps them "fit" together in this story.
If you love military heroes and love to read about them battling their war wounds to find their HEA you will really enjoy this book! I did!
Review copy supplied by publisher for review.

AMAZON Her Forbidden Hero

BARNES & NOBLE Her Forbidden Hero

Voted Breakout Author of the Year in the 2011 Grave Tells Readers’ Choice Awards, Laura is the bestselling and award-winning author of over a half-dozen books in paranormal, contemporary and erotic romance. Hearts in Darkness is the EPIC eBook Award Winner for Best Novella and HOLT Medallion Award of Merit Winner for Best Romance Novella, Forever Freed is the NJRW Golden Leaf Winner for Best Paranormal of 2011 and is a finalist for two GDRWA Booksellers’ Best Awards, and North of Need, the first book in the Hearts of the Anemoi series, is a finalist for a FF&P PRISM award, was named GraveTells’ Best Book of 2011 and won their 5-STAR Gold Heart Award, and won Sizzling Hot Read of the Year at Sizzling Hot Books. Laura lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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